Stamp pads



Oct. 9, 1956 w. K. MUNSON 2,765,767

STAMP PADS Filed Jan. 19, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

5. Whiiney [fl/11015011 United States Patent STAlVLP PADS Whitney Kellogg Munson, Red Bank, N. J.

Application January 19, 1954, Serial No. 405,004

6 Claims. (Cl. 118264) This invention relates to inking pads, in conjunction with which hand stamps are used. More particularly, the invention deals with a novel mounting of the pad proper in the casing of the device, so as to simplify re-inking operations, that is to say, raising and lowering of the pad in the application of ink to the ink reservoirs of the casing.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a structure of the character described, wherein the operation of closing the cover of the device will operate to move the pad proper or element into closed position, thus avoiding the necessity of handling the pad element.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pad made according to my invention showing the cover in raised position, with part of the construction broken away.

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale showing the cover in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, substantially similar to Fig.

2, showing a modified form of construction, the section being substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In Fig. l of the drawing, I have shown at the casing of a stamp pad device which is made of moulded rubber, the casing having, inwardly of the side and front edge portions and along the rear edge portion, a raised wall 11 forming a rectangular compartment 12. The compartment 12 has, on its lower surface, spaced reservoirs 13, in which are disposed absorbent pads, one of which is indicated at 14 for storage of reserve ink for inking the pad proper or element 15.

The element 15 is of standard construction and comprises a rectangular frame, on which the cushioning material of the pad is mounted and, as the present invention is not concerned with the structure of the pad element itself, detailed refer nce will only be made to the protruding bars or lugs 16 of said frame which are disposed at corner portions of the frame and extend outwardly from side edges of the pad element 15. One set of these lugs, adjacent the rear wall, fit in apertures 17 in pivotally mounting the element 15 in the frame to swing vertically in the operation of re-inking the absorbents 14.

The other lugs 16 are adapted to be forced down into other apertures 18 adjacent the forward edge of the pad by forcing the lugs through slits 19 which open into the aperture 18.

In forming the apertures 18, the bottom wall of the casing 10 is recessed, as seen at 20, note Fig. 2 of the drawing, so that, in applying downward pressure upon the front corner portions of the pad element 15, as later cal 2,765,767 e ted .09. 9, 19. .6

ice

described, the pad element can be flexed downwardly to a slight extent to insure engagement of the lugs 16 with the apertures 18 in securing the forward edge portionpf the pad 15 in position.

At this time, it might be well to point out that, in releasing the forward edge portion of the pad element :15 to give access to the absorbents 14, all that is necessary is to flex the front corner portions of .the casing 10 downwardly, which will result in disengaging the lugs 16 from the apertures 18. The pad element 15 may then be swung upwardly on the rear pivots for the inking operation. To then return the pad to the normal closed position, the cover 21 is simply moved downwardly and pressed downwardly to force the lugs 16 into the apertures 18 through the slits 19.

In Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, this result is accomplished by providing inwardly extending beads 22 at corner portions of the cover which engage corner portions of the pad in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, the sameresult is accomplished by having a cover 21, similar to the cover 21 except for the beads 22, engage discs 23 mounted on lugs 24 which are generally similar to the lugs 16 and operate in apertures 18.

The discs 23 have upwardly and downwardly projecting portions 25 which extend above and below the surface of the pad element 15' to be engaged by the cover, both projections being employed so as to facilitate reversal of the pad element 15' in the casing 10. It will also be noted from a consideration of Fig. 4 of the .drawing that the casing 10 is recessed, as seen at 26, to receive the projections 25 and also has a recess 20, generally similar to the recess 20.

Returning now to Fig. 1 of the drawing, it will appear that the casing 10 has, at its rear corner portions, raised bearings 27 receiving a pivot pin 28 which also extends through the rear portion of the raised wall 11 and through an elongated recess 29 formed in said wall, the pin 28 passing through side walls 30 of the cover 21, which walls are disposed between the bearings 27 and the raised wall 11, as clearly shown. A spring 31 is mounted on the pin 28 within the recess 29 and engages the cover to automatically move the same into raised position.

The front wall portion 32 of the cover has an outwardly extending bead 33 which is adapted to engage a raised rubber catch 34 at the front edge of the casing 10 in holding the cover in closed position against the action of the spring 31. By flexing the rubber catch 34 forwardly, the cover is released and is then automatically moved into raised position by the spring 31.

With both forms of construction shown, it is the downward closing movement of the cover of the pad which operates to return the pad element 15 to its closed position as and when the element 15 has been raised for purposes of re-inking. It will be apparent that the reinking operation is performed only at widely spaced intervals. However, with the structure disclosed, the reinking operation can be performed quickly and easily and without soiling the hands of the operator in performing this operation.

In reversing the pad element 15 in the casing, the rear walls 11 are flexed outwardly, which will disengage the rear lugs 16 from the apertures 17 and the pad is reversed by bringing one side of the element 15, for example the right side, into the left side position within the casing. This latter operation is performed only when the surface of the pad becomes worn from extensive use.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A stamp pad comprising a casing, the casing hav- I 3 ing a raised wall portion forming a pad receiving recess, a pad element pivotally and detachably mounted in connection with said raised wall and arranged within said recess, means on the bottomwall of the casing and opening into said recess for inking said pad element, a cover pivotally mounted in connection with the rear of the casing and enveloping the raised Wall and forming a closure for said pad element, the pad element having, at the four corner portions thereof, outwardly extending side lugs adapted to enter apertures in said raised wall in securing the pad element against displacement from the casing, two of said lugs forming a pivotal mounting of the pad element in the casing, said raised wall having slits opening into the two forward apertures, the bottom wall of the casing, adjacent said forward apertures, having recesses to facilitate forciblemovement of the forward lugs into said forward apertures, and means operable upon the closing of the cover which acts to force the forward lugs downwardly through the slits and into their place in the apertures of the casing.

2. A stamp pad comprising a casing, the casing having a raised wall portion forming a pad receiving recess, a pad element pivotally and detachably mounted in connection with said raised wall and arranged within said recess, means on the bottom wall of the casing and opening into said recess for inking said pad element, a cover pivotally mounted in connection with the casing and enveloping the raised wall and forming a closure for said pad element, the pad element having, at the four corner portions thereof, outwardly extending side lugs adapted to enter apertures in said raised wall in securing the pad element against displacement from the casing, two of said lugs forming a pivotal mounting of the pad element in the casing, said raised wall having slits opening into the two forward apertures, the bottom wall of the casing adjacent said forward apertures having recesses to facilitate forcible movement of the other pair of lugs into said forward apertures in mounting the pad element in position, means comprising said cover for moving the last named pair of lugs into the apertures through said slits in securing the pad element in position, and said last named means comprising discs projecting upwardly from the lugs beyond the surface of the pad element and adapted to be engaged by said cover in moving the lugs into operative positions in said apertures.

3. A stamp pad comprising a casing, the casing having a raised wall portion forming a pad receiving recess, a pad element pivotally and detachably mounted in connection with said raised wall and arranged within said recess, means on the bottom wall of the casing and opening into said recess for inking said pad element, a cover pivotally mounted in connection with the casing and enveloping the raised wall and forming a closure for said pad element, the pad element having, at the four corner the casing, said raised wall having slits opening into the two forward apertures, the bottom wall of the casing adjacent said forward apertures having recesses to facilitate forcible movement of the other pair of lugs into said forward apertures in mounting the pad element in position, means comprising said cover for moving the last named pair of lugs into the apertures through said slits in securing the pad element in position, said last named means comprising discs projecting upwardly from the lugs beyond the surface of the pad element and adapted to be engaged by said cover in moving the lugs into operative positions in said apertures, and said discs also projecting beyond the opposed surface of the pad element and adapted to enter said recesses in the casing adjacent said forward apertures.

4. A stamp pad of the character described comprising a casing, a pad element mounted in said casing, means for pivotally mounting the pad element at the rear side portions of the casing, a cover hinged to the rear portion of the casing and extending over the casing to form a closure for said pad element, means at the forward portion of the pad element engaging the casing to retain the pad element against accidental displacement from the casing, and said last named means including projecting means on the pad element adapted to be directly engaged by the cover, in movement of the cover into closed position to move the pad element into retained position in the casing.

5. A stamp pad of the character described, comprising a casing, a pad element mounted in said casing, means for pivotally mounting the pad element at the rear side portions of the casing, 21 cover hinged to the rear portion of the casing and extending over the casing to form a closure for said pad element, means at the forward portion of the pad element engaging the casing to retain the pad element against accidental displacement from the casing, said last named means including portions projecting upwardly and downwardly beyond the surfaces of the pad element for engagement with said cover, and the casing being recessed to receive said projecting portions.

6. A stamp pad of the character described comprising a flexible walled recessed casing, a pad element mounted in the recess of said casing, means pivotally mounting the rear portion of the pad element in flexible walls of the easing, the forward corners of the casing and pad element having interengaging means for normally retaining the pad element in closed position, said last named means being released in flexing corner portions of the casing to free the pad for swinging movement in the casing, and said second named means of the pad element comprising portions projecting above the surface of the pad element to facilitate movement of the pad element into operative position by downward pressure upon said projecting portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,290,488 Munson July 21, 1942 

